Two problems related to engine rattling and whining sounds have been reported for the 2007 Lexus IS250. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
At start up, the car rattles. After several complaints to the dealer several other "fixes" have been done. One fix was to replace the piston rings under recall. I have now started to record all car starts with a camera. In doing so I was able to get the rattle on video. Upon showing this to my service advisor and his superior, they said it had something to do with the cam. Several times before I was told, OH it is no big deal. A cam issue is a very big deal, and now I am being told that the vvt is causing the cam and cam sprocket to shake. This shaking not only creates the rattle noise on start up but is a warning that the sprocket is falling apart. I have 67,000 miles on my car and it is a 2007, therefore pushing me closer and closer to being out of warranty. The dealer stated it is $2500 fix. These cars are all lemons. More of them have the same identical problems, than those that don't have problems. I believe research should be done on the is as a whole, especially the motors as they are prone to many, many defects. I should not have to pay for poor engineering and poor quality/faulty parts. This should be the dealer, corporate, and the manufacturers responsibility. If I could I would sell the car back to the dealer. I purchased this car used June 2012 and within a few weeks I had problems with it, should have been a tell tale sign.
The engine upon cold start up makes a rattling noise and is very loud. Lexus in September recalled the Lexus is 350 for the same reason and they said the car was unsafe to drive. However, I called Lexus customer satisfaction and they diagnosed it as the same issue at my dealership, but would not correct the problem. Also, back in March the vehicle smelt like raw gasoline, so I took it to the dealer and it was leaking gas in the engine compartment. The dealer told me due to the gas vapor, which is extremely flammable that the car could have exploded. However, Lexus would not cover this safety issue under warranty either. This vehicle has been a death trap from day one. It has also been recalled for the faulty gas pedal, brakes working improperly, other fuel line issues other than I mentioned, and even the windshield wipers.